Download CONSERVATION METHODS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES GUNDU

ISBN: 2141 – 1778
jfewr ©2014 - jfewr Publications
E-mail:[email protected]
76
CONSERVATION METHODS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
GUNDU, E. G. and ADIA, J.E
Department of Forestry, Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture Yandev, Gboko Benue State,
Nigeria
ABSTRACT
An endangered species is a population of organisms, which are at high risk of becoming
extinct either due to loss of habitat, high death rate or changes in environmental and
predation parameters. An organism is termed an endangered species if its population has
become small such that free mating and reproduction becomes difficult. Environmental
degradation, climate change and changes in prey-predation ratio are some of the factors
driving many species to extinction today. Without adequate protection, a preservation or
conservation measure, an endangered species finally goes into extinction, that is, permanent
disappearance from the earth surface. Such species are never seen alive again in this world
except in form of fossil (remains) only. In this paper, we examined in-situ and ex-situ
conservation as well as some measures that can be employed in saving some endangered
species from extinction. The paper also recommends adequate documentation and publicity of
the species for conservation and preservation.
Key words: Endangered species, Extinct, Environmental degradation, Climate change, in-situ,
ex-situ.
INTRODUCTION
Tiger, Lion and Cheetah. In Nigeria, of the
According to the International Union for the
4,600 plant species, 707 are said to be
Conservation
an
endangered, while some hundreds of both
endangered species is an organism or a
plants and animal species have since gone
population of organism that faces a high risk
into extinction due to loss of habitat
of becoming extinct due to loss of its
occasioned by environmental degradation
habitat, high death rate or changes in
and climate change (ANFP, 2006). To save
environmental
endangered
of
Nature
and
(IUCN),
prey-predator
species
from
extinction,
parameters. The death rate of such organism
adequate preservation and conservation of
far outweighs its birth rate over a period of
such species and their habitat is necessary.
time resulting to a decline in its population.
Two
Some common examples of endangered
biodiversity as reported by (IUCN , 2009)
main
methods
of
conserving
animal species include African Elephant,
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUME 6, No. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2014.
CONSERVATION METHODS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
77
are considered, this include: ex-situ and in-
Zoo and botanical garden are the most
situ conservation.
conventional
methods
of
ex-situ
conservation where endangered species are
EX-SITU CONSERVATION
bred for possible reintroduction into the
This is the process of protecting or
wild. Animals whose life is threatened in the
preserving an endangered species of either
wild is captured and kept in a zoo to ensure
plants or animal outside of its natural habitat
its continuous existence. Alao (2008),
either by removing whole or part of that
reported that about 18 endangered species of
population from the threatened habitat and
animal are known to be represented by only
placing it in a new environment which may
captive members since those in the wild
be a wild area or within human control
have since died off. Animals such as
environment.
conservation,
Arabian Oryx, peer David Deer, Northern
species whose life is threatened in a
white Rhinoceros, etc at various points in
particular habitat is removed and placed in a
time were extinct in the wild before their
well-protected habitat and taken care of by
reintroduction into the natural world from
man.
captive breeding.
Corker (2002) listed the oldest and best
BOTANICAL GARDEN
known methods of ex-situ conservation to
These are areas set aside for propagation and
include Zoos,
Botanical Gardens, and
preservation of plant species to ensure their
Aquaria. Other modern methods of ex-situ
continuous existence. An endangered plant
conservation where reproductive parts of an
species is harvested in the wild and grown in
endangered species are stored for future
the garden under human care to prevent it
reproduction or propagation include Seed
from becoming extinct. Barbara (2004),
bank, Gene bank, Germplasm bank, and In-
reported that about 354,000 plant species are
vitro Storages (IUCN, 2010).
grown in 1,500 botanical gardens around the
In
ex-situ
world. The Royal Botanical Garden of
Zoos
England (Kew Garden) alone is said to
A zoo is a place where wild animals are kept
house about 25,000 plant species out of
either
which 2,700 are said to be endangered.
for
tourism,
scientific
studies/
research, preservation or breeding purposes.
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUME 6, No. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2014.
Gundu and Adia
78
In Nigeria, conservation of endangered plant
plant species are preserved for a long time
species through botanical gardens is not
without losing their fertility. It can also refer
receiving the desired attention. Rather some
to a special kind of arboretum where seeds
of the existing gardens are continually being
are harvested and the crop is rotated (Gleen
destroyed to pave way for development of
et al, 2006).
other projects. For instance, in 1896, the
then famous Lagos Botanical Garden and
Onitsha Botanical Garden were at various
times
in
the
development
1950s
of
cleared
for
communication
the
lines
(Njoku, 2000).
IN-VITRO STORAGE
Is a storage facility in form of glass tube or
vessel containing nitrogen liquid which
keeps the temperature in the vessel at about 150 degrees Celsius. Hence cuttings, stems
or other reproductive parts of plant stored in
AQUARIA
these strict conditions remain viable for a
Aquaria are facilities used for captive
long time without losing their fertility. Seeds
breeding of fish and other aquatic animals.
or reproductive parts of endangered plant
In the past, aquaria were only used for
species stored in seed Bank or in in-vitro
display
tubes can survive for a long time up to
However,
(decoration)
due
to
of
environment.
growing
threat
to
freshwater species they are now being used
for captive breeding programs. The World
Conservation Union (IUCN) is said to be
working on captive breeding programs for
conservation of fishes in the Lake Victoria
in Africa, the desert fishes of North America
and
Appalachian
stream
fishes
where
aquaria are being designed to depict the
natural habitats for conservation of these
fishes.
SEEDBANK
The term seed bank refers to a cryogenic
laboratory facility in which seeds of certain
hundreds of years making the propagation of
such plant species in future possible.
GENE BANK
These are cryogenic facilities used for the
storage of living sperm, eggs or embryos for
future reproduction. The eggs or sperms of
endangered animal species are preserved
through this method. Inter-governmental
panel on Climate change (IPCC,2007),
reported that the zoological society of SanDiego has established a frozen zoo for the
storage of eggs and sperms where more than
355 species of animals including mammals,
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUME 6, No. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2014.
CONSERVATION METHODS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
79
reptiles and birds are said
to have their
reproductive cells stored. Storage of animal
reproductive cells in gene bank for future
reproduction is applicable even in humans.
In 2004 a woman from the United States of
America was reported to have given birth to
methods of in-situ conservations as stated by
Barbara (2004) include:
-
Strict nature reserve (SNR)
-
Games Reserve
-
National Park
a baby boy through artificial insemination of
Strict Nature Reserves
sperm obtained from her late husband who
These are plant communities reserved in
died since 1973, the man’s sperm was
perpetuity
collected while he was alive, frozen and
economic, educational, scientific, cultural
stored in a Cryogenic (Gene Bank) facility
and aesthetic values. SNR are established in
for 30 years before it was finally removed,
remote areas and given adequate protection.
in
their
natural
state
for
de-frozen and used to fertilize his widow
Games Reserves
(BBC News.com/science).
Game reserves are areas set aside for the
A plant or animal may become extinct today
propagation, protection, conservation and
but if the seed, sperms or eggs of such
management of flora and fauna with fauna
species are stored in seed or Gene Bank such
species been of main interest. In Nigeria
species can be brought back into existence
there are several gazetted Games’ reserves
through reproduction or propagation of the
spread across the country. However research
stored reproductive parts.
by Udoh (1999) has shown that most of
these reserves have been degraded while
IN-SITU CONSERVATION
This
involves
the
conservation
and
preservation of species in their natural
habitat in places where the species naturally
occurs. Under this method the entire
quite a number have totally been dereserved. Game reserves are statutorily
owned and managed by state or local
governments.
ecosystem is protected and maintained so
National Parks
that all the constituent species, both known
These are areas exclusively set aside for the
and unknown are conserved. The main
propagation, protection, conservation and
management of flora and fauna as well as
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUME 6, No. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2014.
Gundu and Adia
80
the
protection
of
site,
landscape
or
vii. Kamuku National Park –Kaduna
geological formation of a particular place for
State.
scientific or aesthetic values for the benefit
of the general public. National parks are
The above listed parks were operated as
either games or forest reserves until 1991
owned by the Federal Government.
when
the
General
Ibrahim
Badamasi
In Nigeria, there used to be eight National
Babangida
parks spread across the different ecological
promulgated Decree 36 of 1991, upgrading
zones of the country, but now the number
the first five to the status of a Park. In 1999,
has reduced to seven due to the takeover of
Okomu and Kamuku were added to the list
the Yankari National Park by the Bauchi
after Degree 36 of 1991 was replaced with
state government which has made it to lose
Degree 46 of 1999 (Now Act 46 of 1999) on
the status of a national park. The act
May 26th 1999 (NPS 2010).
led
Military
Government
establishing parks stipulates that it must be
owned
and
managed
by the
Federal
government. According to the Nigeria
National Park Service Brochure (NPS) 2010,
Some of the objectives of establishing
national parks in Nigeria include:
-
Conservation
of
selective
the remaining seven national parks in
representative samples of wildlife
Nigeria include:
communities in Nigeria
i. Kainji Lake National Park-New
Bussa Niger State
ii. Chad Basin National Park located in
Borno and Yobe State.
iii. Cross River National Park-Cross
River State
-
Protection of endangered vertebrate
species.
-
Protection of crucial wetland and
water catchments areas.
-
Promotion
and
provision
of
education about wildlife and nature
conservation etc.
iv. Old Oyo National Park- Oyo State
v. Gashaka Gumti National park – cut
across Adamawa and Taraba State
vi. Okomu National Park – Edo State
CULTURAL CONSERVATION
Before the advent of modern conservation
methods in Nigeria, some cultural beliefs
had helped a lot in conservation of some
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUME 6, No. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2014.
CONSERVATION METHODS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
81
wild plants and animal species. Not all
Calorophone excelsa , was never cut by the
animals were either killed or eaten by some
Binis. It was believed to protect the Bini
tribes. For instance, it was forbidden for a
Kingdom against witches and wizard. Also
Bini man to kill or eat Buffalo, Bushbuck,
Mbakwe (1986), observed that trees like
Leopard, Chimpanzee, Tortoise and black
Parkia biglobosa,prosopis africana, Elaes
Snake. The tortoise was used for curing of
guinensis, Irvingia
some deadly or terminal illness and as such
highly protected in many parts of the
was believed to be capable of bringing back
country particularly in northern Nigeria due
such disease to the family if eaten. The
to cultural beliefs and traditions.
gabonensis etc, were
Buffalo on the other hand was believed to be
a harbinger of ill luck. Therefore, anyone
who kills or eats it is doomed to ill luck and
CONCLUSION AND
penury. Similarly, it was a taboo for an
RECOMMENDANTIONS
Urhobo man or an Itsekiri man to kill or eat
Crocodile, monitor Lizard or Bushbucks.
The Yorubas despised the Vulture bird.
As several plants and animals species
continued to go extinct due to loss of
habitat,
occasioned
by
environmental
The Tiv people of North Central Nigeria do
degradation and climate change, there is
not kill the green snake locally called
every need for adequate protection and
“kyarem”. According to them it was the
conservation of both the endangered species
“kyarem” that helped their forefathers to
in their natural habitat to be encouraged. In-
cross a river on their way from Congo to
situ
Nigeria by lying across the river hence
protection of species in their natural habitat
enabling the people to cross over as bridge.
should be encouraged. In-situ conservation
Based on this belief, the green snake was
in most cases is carried out by removing the
highly protected by the Tivs.
endangered species in question and placing
Cultural
beliefs
had
also
helped
in
conservation of some plants species. Some
culture forbids the cutting down of certain
tree species. For example, an Iroko tree,
conservation
which
involves
the
it under human controlled environment
which in most cases is more costly, and the
species faces the challenges of survival after
reintroduction in the wild.
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUME 6, No. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2014.
Gundu and Adia
82
To prevent endangered species from going
activities of illegal timber dealers
into extinctions, the following measures
and poachers.
should be taken.
4. Adequate
1. Some cultural practices which favour
conservation of natural resources
should be encouraged.
2. Government should develop and
encourage the use of alternative
resources of energy to discourage
most Nigerians from using fuel wood
as a source of energy which has
caused
the
depletion
of
forest
resources over the years, (forests
serve as habitat to many species).
documentation
and
publicity of the endangered species
should be carried out so that the
general public can also help in their
protection and conservation.
5. Massive aforestation program by
both
government
and
private
individuals to check the effect of
climate change and environmental
degradation which is responsible for
loss
of
biodiversity
should
be
encouraged.
3. Adequate protection of the existing
forest reserves and national parks
should be carried out to check
REFERENCE
Alao, A. O. (2008): Desertification:Eleven
Northern States on the danger List.The
Education.www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/index
.htm.
th
National newspaper 11 March 2008pp 29.
ANFP (2006): Approved National Forest
Policy.
Federal
Ministry
of
Environment Abuja, 2006.
conservation. British Wildlife
Conservation and Environmental
Education.www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/
Annon, C. (2004): BBC News Science
Report
Corker, J. (2002): Endangered species
www.BBC
news.com/sci.co.uk
index.htm.
Glenn, G. H (2006): Earth’s Endangered
Creatures: Accessed 9/30/2008.
Barbara, D. W. (2004): Biodiversity and
Conservation.
British
Wildlife
Conservation and Environmental
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUME 6, No. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2014.
CONSERVATION METHODS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
83
IPCC (2007): Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change. Report on Effect of
NPS
climate change on biodiversity, 2007.
IUCN (2010) International Union for the
(2010):
National
Park
Service
Brochure, 2010 Edition.
Mbakwe, R. (1986): the process of
Conservation of Nature.
Deforestation in Nigeria and its
www.iucn.com.
Ecological
IUCN (2009): International Union for the
Proceedings
consequences.
of
the
Annual
Conservation of Nature. Red list
Conference of Forestry Association
statistics www.iucn.redlist.com
of Nigeria Minna, Niger State.
Njoku,F. (2009): Nigeria Agriculture and
the challenges of the 21st Century.
Agro-science Journal of Tropical
Agriculture, Food, Environment and
Extension University of Nigeria
Nsukka.
Udoh,
L.
(1999):
Forest
Biodiversity
Conservation in Nigeria through
community Forestry. In proceeding
of the 26th Annual Conference of
Forestry Association of Nigeria,
Borno State
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUME 6, No. 2 SEPTEMBER, 2014.